Mayfield Water Supply FAQs

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​Why
is Ashburton District Council changing the way it supplies water to Mayfield?The
Council has been monitoring the Mayfield water bore level and has found that it
is now extremely low. Council staff are concerned that the bore will not
be able to provide the water Mayfield needs for the summer.

Why
is the water level in the bore so low?Usually, the water level in the bore drops during summer and recovers in
winter. In the last three years, the bore
hasn’t fully recharged each winter, leading to very low levels this year. Other
bores in the area have also been affected.

What
will the Council do to ensure Mayfield residents receive the water they need?To
make sure Mayfield residents continue to receive safe, clean, drinking water,
the Council will switch the water supply from the bore to a water race. A
mobile treatment plant will be installed to clean and treat the water so that it
meets all the requirements for safe drinking water.

When
will the Council start using the treatment plant?The
plant will be installed at the end of November or early December.

Are
Mayfield residents able to water their gardens?Hosing
is not allowed in Mayfield at the moment and this will continue through the
summer.

When
will the Mayfield water supply return to normal?At
this stage, we don’t know. It will depend on whether groundwater levels
recover in the near future.

Is
there anything the Council would like Mayfield residents to do?Continue
to follow the hosing restrictions and report any water leaks on private
properties or from general water pipes, as soon as possible. Water meters have
also been installed to help the Council identify any major leaks.

A
big thank you to Mayfield residents who have been supporting the water
restrictions. Water usage in Mayfield, over the past few weeks, has been
significantly less than usual.